By Jimitota Onoyume
The change in the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly was shocking to many given the warm relationship between the former Speaker, Rt. Hon Ikuinyi Owaji-Ibani and members on one hand and Governor Wike on the other hand.
This cordiality was seen in the speedy way the House attended to requests from the governor. Not too long ago, the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC even accused the House of allegedly granting the governor approval to secure a N10 billion loan in a manner it considered to be abnormal.
Nullification of the election
According to spokesman of the APC in the state, Mr. Chris Finebone , the lawmakers allegedly granted the request at about 6 a.m. on November 18 after an unusual meeting with the governor in Government House where they were told to keep sealed lips on the issue.
However, apprehension by the ruling PDP in the state arose following the nullification of the election of the erstwhile speaker and 19 other House members all elected on the platform of the PDP where the PDP controls 30 of the 31 seats. The APC which was the former ruling party in the state has only one seat.
Nyesom Wike
Though all those affected have appealed the tribunal verdict but there is still serious concern among PDP stakeholders over who could succeed Ibani-Owaji should he lose at the Court of Appeal.
The worry of the PDP is compounded by the fact that Governor Wike also lost at the tribunal and has also lost at the Court of Appeal. The problems of the PDP are also compounded by the fact that all three senators and twelve members of the House of Representatives on the platform of the party also lost at the tribunal.
“So you can see why we should all be worried. “, a member of the House of Assembly on the platform of the PDP confided in Vanguard.
The member said the governor’s decision to approach the Supreme Court meant that nothing should be left to chances. “We don’t want to be caught napping. It is better to be proactive. If things turn out in our favour, good but the major thing is that we are plugging every hole”, he said.
Owaji-Ibani was not forced to resign
Owaji-Ibani resignation as speaker was undoubtedly well arranged. Before he stepped down, he presided over the presentation by the governor of the 2016 N307 billion appropriation bill. The proceedings started at about 5.25 p.m. that Friday. Shortly after the bill was passed into law he stepped aside as Speaker.
Members who spoke to the Vanguard off camera said he was not forced to resign. Though Owaji-Ibani gave personal reason for his action but Vanguard gathered that it was a proactive step to ensure the party was firmly in charge of the House.
Lower tribunal
“With the way the Appeal court ruling has been going, nobody can say who will be swept off. Some of us have already lost at the lower tribunal. So we were just being proactive in case, you understand me so that we will still be in charge. Hon Ikuinyi was not forced to resign and there was no problem in the House,“ he said.
Adams Dabotorudima emerges new Speaker
Hon Adams from Okrika State Constituency was elected new Speaker of the House. Vanguard gathered that the PDP dominated House settled for him because he reportedly does not have any election petition related matter in court.
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